Total key unlocking means for adding machines



Nov. 21, 1933.

G. J. BARRETT TOTAL KEY UNLOCKING MEANS FOR ADDING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1951 IN VliN TOR A 770mm VS G J. BARRETT TOTAL KEY UNLOCKING MEANS FOR ADDING MACHINES Filed June 1'7, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet IN pas/wwgar/"d7" M/ ATTORNEYS Nov. 21, 1933.

Nov. 21, 1933. G BARRETT TOTAL KEY UNLOCKING MEANS FOR ADDING MACHINES Filed June 17, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR A TORNEYj Patented Nov. 21, 1933 TOTAL KEY UNLGCKING MEANS FOR ADDING MACHINES Glenn J. Barrett, Grand Rapids, Miclr, assignor to Portable Adding Machine Company, Ohicago, Ill.

Application June 17, 1931. Serial No. 545,070

7 Claims. (Cl. 235-130) The object of my invention is to provide improved means, operating independently of the regular main operation of the adding means, for resetting transfer mechanism preparatory to taking a total.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will definitely appear from the descriptionto follow.

I show my invention applied to the well known 10 Corona adding machine but it may be applied to any adding machine wherein the transfer of the tens from one denomination to the next higher is accomplished by making available an excess movement in each adding actuator, usually provided under spring tension with suitable means i for making this excess movement active. In other Words, in machines of the class to which my invention is applied, each adding actuator is provided with a possible movement of one space in excess of the movement necessary to add the amount controlled by the key depressed in that column, the power for producing this excess movement for transfer usually being a suitable return spring.

In the Corona addingmachine, and machines of its class, a total is obtained by rotation of the accumulators in a backward direction while the type bearing members are so connected to them that they will. move in synchrony. In other words, if in any accumulator there be a 4 accumulated, in totaling it is desired to print that 4 upon a suitable recording means. When a 4 is accumulated in the accumulator of any column, it means that the accumulator of that column has rotated four spaces from the cipher position. It must therefore rotate back four spaces to get to the said cipher position. In the Corona and adding machines of its class, adding actuators are positioned during the forward movement of the operating handle, according to the value of the depressed key in each respective column. The

accumulators are separated from the adding actuators during this positioning. During the return of the handle the accumulators are first placed in mesh with the adding actuators, and

then, as the adding actuators are pushed back a distance equal, of course, to that traveled when taking their positions respectively, the accumulators are rotated a like number of spaces.

Whenever any accumulator passes the 9 position, a tripping means renders an excess movement of one adding space, available in the next column toward the left and the adding actuator of that column moves its cooperating accumulator one space more than that governed by the key depressed in that column.

When taking a total, the accumulators are held in mesh with the adding actuators and all of the adding actuators being freed by suitable means to move in the direction they would normally go when taking an adding position, of course, the accumulators are rotated backwardly as they are in mesh during this operation.

Type connections are provided operating in 66 synchrony with the adding actuators respectively, so that when an adding actuator, limited by the movement of its cooperating accumulator, moves four spaces, there being a 4 accumulated thereon as explained, the 4 type is positioned m in printing position. It is understood that there is provided a suitable stop which stops all accumulators in their backward rotation at the cipher point. The accumulators are held at this point while printing of the respective amounts set for 78 each column to correspond with the number of spaces each accumulator has traveled backwardly. This is accomplished by suitable means therefor.

However, it is a well known fact to those fa- 8C9 miliar with adding machine designs similar to that of the Corona adding machine and many others of its class, that after a transfer movement and the utilization of an excess movement therefor as previously explained, it is necessary to restore this transfer movement in all columns before totaling for the reason that the number positioned for printing after the use of a transfor movement, will not correctly represent the actual number shown by the accumulation in' that particular column. It is only when the accumulators rotate backwardly driven by their respective adding actuators from the normal stopping point of the latter, and not from the position after moving the extra distance for the transfer, that the correct type will be positioned for printing.

In machines like the Corona adding machine, it is generally necessary to take what is called an idle handle stroke before taking a total in order to re-position or reset the transfer movements prior to totaling.

The object of my invention is to provide means for resetting the transfer movements without the necessity of taking this customary idle handle stroke.

In machines of the class of the Corona adding machine, it is customary to lock the totaling means against operation as long as the transfer movement is not reset. Taking thecustomary 10 idle handle stroke causes this look to be ineffective. Such locks are operative when any adding actuator passes the stop where it would normally come to rest in adding the exact amount indicated by the depressed key. In other words, this lock becomes efiective whenever an adding actuator passes the normal stop as it does when recordinga transfer of 1 from the next column to the right.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a right hand elevation view of the essential parts of an adding machine with the outer case removed, some of the parts being broken away to expose the mechanism more clearly, and showing particularly the control mechanism or means for periodically operating the devices for completing the adding and totaling operations of such a machine.

Fig.2 is a similar elevation view showing certain of the parts appearing in Fig. 1 eliminated or broken away to better expose details.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the stop arms forthe adding actuators and their relation to their cooperating tripping means carried by the accumulators.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional plan view on irregular line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1, 1 is the operating handle of the adding machine to which I have adapted my invention. This handle is pivoted at 2 in the main frame of the machine. 3 is a plate or cam attached to the handle and provided with a slot or opening 4. 5 is a plate or lever pivotally mounted at 2 and located between the plate 3 and the main frame 6 of the adding machine. This lever 5 is provided with an oscillating movement byvirtue of a slot '7 and the stop screw 8.

'' 9 is a stop stud located in the lever 5. 10 is the spring which normally holds the lever 5 in position, as shown in Fig. 1. This spring 10 is rather stiff, so that the stud 9 acts as a stop to normally limit the operating movement of the handle 1 upon its return. However, if the handle is forced backwardly with power in addition to that of the main operating spring of the adding machine, this lever 5 will swing down to position noted by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, dotted lines also showing the position the handle will take if forced back beyond the normal stop as explained. 11 is the end piece of the accumulator frame which ispivoted at 12. 13 are the accumulators (see Fig. 2) pivotally mounted in this frame 11 so that the moving of this frame downwardly will move the accumulators 13 out of mesh with the adding actuators 14.

The accumulators are normally in mesh with their cooperating adding actuators respectively 0 -,as shown in Fig. 3. The actuator 14 shown in full view Fig. 3 has moved the extra transfer space as described above, the accumulator to its right having passed the 9 point. 16 is a link connected to its cooperating adding actuator at -17. When this adding actuator 14 is moved beyond the normal stopping point, the stop 18 having been forced up when the accumulator tothe right passes the 9 point, it pulls the link 16 to the position shown in Fig. 3. This in turn moves a locking member by reason of the contact of link 16 against a cross piece 20 from this locking member 19 causing the upper end or looking end of 19 to pass under a projection from the totaling lever 22, so that when the parts are in positionshown in Fig. 3 it is impossible to operate the total lever 22. If it were possible to so operate this total lever 22, while the link 16 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, a wrong total would be printed upon the tape. This is a well known fact in machines like the Corona adding machine. 23 shows the position a link takes when its cooperating adding actuator stops against the normal stop 18, or when 18 is in normal position, the accumulator to the right not having passed the 9 point.

In order to make my invention effective, in restoring the transfer motions in any columns wherein it may have occurred, it is necessary to force the accumulators down out of mesh with the adding actuators, and while holding them in this position, to force all the adding actuators 14 back to normal position in which the stops 18 will fall behind the contact portion of such adding actuators, holding them in normal stopping positions.

This is accomplished as follows: To the lower portion of the lever 5 at 24 is pivoted a pitman or link 26 shown in dotted lines connecting with 5. When the lever 5 is moved, as described, by forcing the operating handle 1 back beyond its normal stopping position, this link 26 is forced toward the front of the adding machine. In the upright 19 is a stud 27 adapted to ride in a slot 261 in link 26.

During the early portion of the movement of the lever 5 the roller 28 contacts with the accumulator frame 11 at cam surface 29. This forces the forward end of this accumulator frame, carrying the accumulators 13, down, so that the accumulators themselves are moved out of mesh with their respective actuators. Further movement of the roller 28 on the cam merely holds the accumulator frame in an inactive position, as described, while the link or pitman 26 advances until the rear end of the slot 261 contacts against the pin 27 which forces the upright member 19 which is pivoted at 25 toward the front of the adding machine. This movement causes the cross piece 20 to force the links 16 and their cooperating adding actuators, that may have passed on, in a transfer movement back to normal position or the position of the link 23, see Fig. 3.

This is done, as explained, while the accumulator pinions are held out of mesh with their cooperating adding actuators, by virtue of the roller 28 operating against the cam 29. When the adding actuators are forced back to normal position they are latched there because the stop arm, which was previously raised to allow the transfer movement, will fall behind the contact portion of the adding actuator by virtue of the spring 30. This is done while the accumulators are held out of mesh. When the accumulators are again allowed to resume their normal position, at the return of the lever 5 to normal position, they mesh in the proper tooth of the adding actuators respectively for totaling so that, during a totaling operation to follow, the correct type to indicate a total will be positioned at printing point.

I will detail the operation by reference to the drawings. Handle 1 is rigidly attached to the cam member 3. The arm 5 carries a pin 9 which extends through the radial opening 4 in the cam member 3 and serves as a normal stop for the rearward movement of operating handle 1 under the tension of the main operating spring of the adding machine. Spring 10 holds arm 5 in position shown in Fig. 1 and, being stronger than the main spring, returns the handle 1 against spring,

the mainisprin'g tension; By forcing the handle 1 ,totheposition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l against the tension of spring 10, and then relieving rearward pressureon handle 1, it will return to normal position shown by heavy lines in Fig. 1, by reason of the fact that spring 10 is much, stronger than the usual handle return spring.

Ingother words, pressure upon the handle forcing. the same back beyond normal stopping position and. extending spring 10, first forces the accumulators out of mesh with their cooperating ading actuators, then forces the adding actuators, which may have passed beyond the normal stopping point, back to normal stopping point where they are-latched ready for another transfer movement. After the accumulators are finally dropped back into mesh with the adding actuators, the parts will have been correctly positioned for a correct totaling operation.

My invention may be applied to any form of adding machine wherein adding actuators are positioned during the forward portion of the handle stroke, accumulators are moved out of mesh during this positioning, and replaced again before the adding actuators are restored to normal positions, and wherein an excess movement of the adding actuators is provided for the purpose of transferring the tens from one denomination to the next higher.

I have shown in detail a preferred form of my invention which I desire to claim specifically and I also desire to claim the same broadly, as pointed out in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an adding machine having an operating mechanism held in normal position by a suitable adding actuators and transfer stops therefor, means for causing said adding actuators to move one space beyond said transfer stops, accumulator elements cooperating with said adding actuators respectively, mounted in a suitable frame and adapted to go into and out of operative mesh with said adding actuators, and suitable totaling means for registering the correct total upon said accumulator elements, the combination of a yielding stopping member for said operating mechanism, a suitable spring for holding said yielding stopping member in normal position, means for imparting movement to said frame from said member, a lock for looking said totaling means while any of said adding actuators remain beyond their said transfer stops, and means for imparting movement to said actuators from said member to restore the actuators to zero position.

2. In an adding machine having an operating mechanism held in normal position by a suitable spring, adding actuators and transfer stops therefor, means for causing said adding actuators to move one space beyond said transfer stops, accumulator elements cooperating with .said adding actuators respectively, mounted in a suitable frame and adapted to go into and out of operative mesh with said adding actuators, the combination of a yielding stopping member for said operating mechanism, and a suitable means for holding same in normal stopping position, means for imparting movement to said frame from said member, and means for imparting movement to said actuators from said member to restore the actuators to zero position.

3. In an adding machine of the class described,

having a reciprocatory main operating mechanism for performing additions and for registering totals, adding actuators, means for moving said actuators away from and back to transfer stops during the operation of said main operating mechanism, accumulator elements to cooperate with said actuators, and means for effecting a transfer of the tens from one column to a higher actuated by the movement of said actuators one adding space beyond said transfer stops while said accumulator elements remain in cooperative relation to said actuators, the combination of a stop to normally limit the return movement of said reciprocatory main operating mechanism, means for securing an additional movement of said main operating mechanism past said normal limit, and contact connections from said main operating mechanism operable when said main operating mechanism moves past said normal limit, for returning said actuators to normal position after said transfer movement, and means for retaining said accumulator elements out of cooperative position with relation to said actuators while said actuators are being returned to said normal position during said additional movement of said main operating mechanism.

4. In an adding machine of the class described, having a reciprocatory main operating mechanism for performing additions and for registering totals, adding actuators, means for moving said actuators away from and back to transfer stops during the operation of said main operating mechanism, accumulator elements to cooperate with said adding actuators, and means for effecting a movement of said actuators of one adding space beyond said transfer stops while said accumulator elements are in cooperative relation with said actuators, the combination of a yielding stop for normally limiting the return movement of said main operating mechanism, contact connections from said main operating mechanism operable when said main operating mechanism is forced against said yielding stop and beyond normal stopping position for returning said actuators to normal position after the latter shall have passed said one adding space beyond said transfer stops therefor, and means for retaining said accumulator elements out of cooperative relation with said actuators during said return of the latter to normal position.

5. In an adding machine of the class described, comprising a reciprocatory main operating mechanism, adding actuators, transfer stops therefor, means actuated by said main operating mechanism for moving said actuators away from said transfer stops and for returning same to normal position against said stops, accumulator elements to cooperate with said adding actuators, and means for securing a movement of said actuators one adding space beyond said transfer stops governed by the rotation of said accumulator elements, the combination of a yielding stop for normally limiting the return movement of said main operating mechanism, and means actuated by said yielding stop for returning said actuators to normal position after same shall have passed said one adding space beyond said transfer stops therefor, and for maintaining said accumulator elements out of cooperative position with relation to said actuators during said return of said actuators to normal position actuated by the movement of said yielding stop.

6. In an adding machine of the class described,

comprising a reciprocatory main operating mechanism, adding actuators, transfer stops therefor, accumulator elements to cooperate with said actuators, means actuated by said main operating mechanism for moving said actuators away from and back against said transfer stops, and means for permitting actuators to pass one adding space beyond said transfer stops while said accumulator elements are in cooperative relation to said actuators, the combination of a yielding movable stop for the return movement of said main operating mechanism, and means controlled by said movable stop for returning said actuators to normal position after same shall have passed said one adding space beyond the transfer stops therefor, and for maintaining said accumulator elements out of cooperative relation with said actuators during said return of said actuators to normal position.

'7. In an adding machine of the class described, comprising a reciprocatory main operating mechanism, adding actuators, transfer stops therefor, means governed by the movement of said main operating mechanism for moving'said actuators away from and back to said transfer stops, accumulator elements cooperating with said adding actuators, and means for passing said adding actuators one adding space beyond said transfer stops therefor governed by the rotation of said accumulator elements past the 9" point thereon, the combination of means for normally stopping the return of said main operating mechanism, means for securing an additional movement of said main operating mechanism past said normal stopping means, and means operative when said main operating mechanism passes back beyond said normal stopping point for restoring said actuators to normal position after the latter shall have passed said one adding space beyond said transfer stops therefor.

GLENN J. BARRE'I'P. 

